Symptoms of a Faulty or Faulty Fuel Level Sensor

If your fuel gauge is erratic or stuck on full or empty, you may need to replace the fuel gauge sensor.

The fuel gauge sensor is a component found in the gas tank of most road vehicles. The fuel gauge sensor, also commonly referred to as the fuel delivery unit, is the component responsible for sending the signal that controls the fuel gauge in the instrument cluster. The fuel supply unit consists of a lever, a float and a resistor that changes depending on the position of the float. The sensor float is designed to float on the surface of the fuel inside the tank. As the level drops, the position of the lever and float shifts and moves the resistor that controls the display on the gauge. When a problem occurs in the fuel supply unit, it can cause the car to have problems with the fuel gauge, which can put the car at risk of running out of fuel. Usually, a faulty or faulty fuel gauge sensor will cause several symptoms that may alert the driver to a potential problem.

1. Fuel level sensor behaves erratically

One of the first symptoms of a fuel gauge sensor problem is that the fuel gauge is behaving erratically. A faulty fuel gauge sensor can cause the gauge to change suddenly or give inaccurate readings. The scale may appear to be three-quarters, and then, after just a few minutes, it will change to half full, or vice versa, the scale may appear to be full, only for the scale to rise higher after a while.

2. Fuel gauge stuck in empty space.

Another common symptom of a bad fuel gauge sensor is the sensor stuck at empty. If the float somehow breaks or separates from the lever, this can cause the fuel gauge to malfunction and hang at an empty level. A bad resistor can also cause the sensor to read blank.

3. Fuel gauge stuck at full

Another, less common symptom of a fuel gauge sensor problem is a stuck fuel gauge at full level. A bad fuel gauge resistor can send an incorrect signal to the instrument cluster, which can cause the gauge to constantly show full charge. This is a problem, as the driver must know the exact fuel level in the vehicle in order to avoid running out of fuel.

The fuel delivery unit is not a regularly serviced component, usually serviced only if the fuel pump or fuel pump fails, however it plays an important role in the correct operation of the vehicle. If your fuel level sensor is showing any of the symptoms, or you suspect there may be a problem with this device, have your vehicle checked by a professional technician, such as one from AvtoTachki, to determine if the fuel level sensor should be replaced.